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Discover unique cultural experiences and interactions beyond hotel stays through our exclusive “BORDERLESS TRAVEL” program for residents!

Hello everyone! Welcome to Borderless House.

Here at Borderless House, the new friendships and interactions under one roof provide a unique sense of fulfillment that only comes from living it.

Japanese residents might find themselves teaching Japanese to their new international housemates, assisting with various administrative procedures, and adapting to life in Japan. This mutual support mirrors the help we would seek if we were traveling or living abroad ourselves.

Stepping out of the comfort of home takes courage, but a warm community waiting at your destination can make any overseas adventure enjoyable and reassuring.

Today, we’re excited to introduce BORDERLESS TRAVEL, where you can enjoy short stays at Borderless Houses in different countries and meet new housemates across borders.

We’ll share the story of Yuzuki, who ventured from Kyoto’s Nishijin House to spend a week in February 2024 at KORYODAE2 HOUSE in Korea. Yuzuki will tell us about her experiences in Japan, her adventures in Korea, and the allure of BORDERLESS TRAVEL.

We also have comments from Robin, the manager of BORDERLESS KOREA, so stay tuned till the end for more insights!

Click here for more details on BORDERLESS TRAVEL!！

Embracing English: Yuzuki’s Journey at Nishijin House

Yuzuki’s time at Nishijin House brought about a significant shift in her views on English and international interactions. She explained that her decision to move there stemmed from a desire to conquer her fear of English and engage with people from different countries.

Although she initially enjoyed English, the stress of exam preparation diminished her passion, and she struggled to speak fluently. Yuzuki realized the limitations of speaking only Japanese and saw the potential of English to connect her with diverse cultures and ideas.

Driven by the need to immerse herself in an English-speaking environment, Yuzuki chose to live at Borderless House.

───Did you consider any other share houses before choosing Borderless House?

Yuzuki: Actually, I didn’t look anywhere else. I decided to move into Borderless House the same day I visited. The environment offered the perfect mix of English practice and social opportunities, all within my budget. Plus, I was planning to study abroad the next year, so the idea of practicing for that experience while still in Japan seemed perfect to me.

─── Could you tell us about your housemates at Nishijin House?

Yuzuki: On my first day, one of my housemates surprised me by inviting me to a party right away, which was unexpected (laughs)! Initially, I was nervous, but everyone was so welcoming that I quickly warmed up to them.

I formed a close bond with a foreign housemate, and we often went out together. I also shared unique insights with a working professional housemate. Whenever we faced challenges or disagreements in our shared living situation, we were able to discuss and resolve them during our regular house meetings at Nishijin House. It truly was a great community to be a part of.

───Have you noticed any personal growth or changes during your time at Nishijin House?

Yuzuki: Absolutely! Initially, spending time with people from other countries was out of the ordinary for me, and it came with a bit of tension. But after living in Borderless House, I’ve become comfortable engaging freely in conversations without considering race or nationality.

It’s been incredibly enriching to learn from the diverse perspectives and strong convictions of my housemates.

Embarking on My First Solo International Journey with BORDERLESS TRAVEL!

───How did you become interested in BORDERLESS TRAVEL?

Yuzuki: I’ve known about the program since I moved in and always wanted to try it. I felt staying at a Borderless House abroad would be more enriching than solo hotel stays, allowing me to learn the language and engage with locals.

It seemed like a perfect way to prepare for my first solo international trip before studying in Canada this summer.

─── Your first experience living abroad was with BORDERLESS TRAVEL. Did you encounter any challenges during your travel?

Yuzuki: It was quite nerve-wracking, especially going through immigration for the first time and figuring out train transfers on my own. But luckily, everything went smoothly without any major problems!

Yuzuki: When I got to Koryodaes House, I was greeted by Robin, the staff member I had been communicating with by email. Meeting him in person really helped me settle in. He showed me around and shared some local tips and places to visit.

───Traveling abroad for the first time can be quite daunting. Did you notice any notable differences during your stay in the Borderless House in Korea compared to Japan?

Yuzuki: Definitely. For example, I had to separate organic waste from burnable trash, and in public restrooms, I couldn’t flush toilet paper but had to discard it in a bin.

Living in an environment close to the local lifestyle, unlike a hotel stay, made me more aware of these cultural differences. This is one of the unique advantages of BORDERLESS TRAVEL.

Language Learning, Cultural Exploration, and International Connections: Maximize the Benefits of Short-Term Stays!

───During your seven-day stay, did you make any specific efforts?

Yuzuki: I focused on being proactive in starting conversations with my housemates. It was my first time in a shared room overseas, and I quickly hit it off with my Italian roommate on the first day. She left for Tokyo the next day, so we couldn’t meet again, but we kept in touch through Instagram, sharing messages and updates about her trip.

Many of my housemates were interested in Japan, so we enjoyed mingling and conversing in Japanese, English, and Korean.

───Did you also converse in Korean during your stay?

Yuzuki: Yes, I’ve been a fan of Korean dramas, which helped me learn the language pretty naturally. I actually speak Korean better than English! While there, Robin invited me to a Language Exchange event, where I got to meet and chat with people outside the house, making my stay even more enjoyable.

───It sounds like you made the most of your 7-day stay! What other activities did you do?

Yuzuki: I visited historic sites and museums that caught my interest. I dressed in traditional Korean clothes and explored Gyeongbokgung Palace, and I also went to the DMZ near the North Korean border.

I participated in a tour aimed at Japanese visitors and connected well with other participants. We discussed how the conflict known in Japan as the “Korean War” is referred to in Korea. Learning about Korean perspectives on their history was incredibly insightful.

─── Reflecting on your 7-day stay, could you highlight what makes BORDERLESS TRAVEL so special?

Yuzuki: Definitely! The program offers deep cultural experiences and meaningful interactions with local housemates that you just can’t get from staying in a hotel. It allows you to live much closer to how the locals do, which is unique to BORDERLESS TRAVEL.

I think even short stays can provide significant learning and insights. I recommend starting with a stay in a domestic Borderless House to get a feel for international exchange before trying out the program.

A Message from Robin, Korean Operations Staff

BORDERLESS TRAVEL, with its strong emphasis on tourism and travel aspects, offers an exciting experience that’s a bit different from our usual resident support. It was Yuzuki’s first solo international trip, so we actively shared information about tourist spots and recommended gourmet spots to ensure she could fully enjoy her time in Korea.

With a recent expansion in our staff at Borderless House Korea, we’re now even better equipped to support our guests in a variety of ways.

I enjoy keeping up with the latest trends and sharing new information, so I encourage you to take advantage of BORDERLESS TRAVEL and come visit us in Korea.

I’m looking forward to meeting you!

 

 

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BORDERLESS TRAVEL, part of the Borderless Mates program, is an exclusive initiative for residents that offers connections beyond the typical share house experience.

Please note that due to the availability of vacancies at the destination, we may not be able to accommodate your preferred timing or house. We recommend contacting us before booking your flight.

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Game On! Building Friendships at Borderless House Exciting Board Game Night

Hi there! We’re back at Borderless House.

Today’s blog is about more fun stuff from Borderless House Kansai, right after our udon-making event!

This time, we’re excited to share the highlights from our board game meet-ups, held in October and November last year. Although we’re sharing this a bit later, last year was packed with fun events in Kansai, so stick around for more stories and laughs! 

Board Game Gathering in Kyoto, Japan!

For our latest event, we aimed to not only strengthen the bonds between our residents but also to help everyone get more comfortable with Japanese in a fun way. We believed that engaging in games and various activities would naturally spark conversations, making the idea of speaking Japanese less daunting.

We chose a board game café located close to one of our houses for the venue.

At the cafe, we were amazed by the towering stacks of board games, reaching almost up to the ceiling! The owner, with a collection from all around the world, helped us pick out the perfect games for our group.

For our October gathering, we went with a card game. The fun part? We had to quickly make up stories based on the pictures on the cards. Trying to do this in English added an exciting twist!

There was a buzz of anticipation as we all watched to see which card would be played next. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the players’ every move.

At the café, one of the regulars happened to be there and was so intrigued that they asked, “Can I join in?” Thanks to this, our October event turned into a lively session with about 10 people playing and having a great time!

The best part about these games is they’re just as fun whether you’re in a big group or a small one. They offer a great mix of excitement and the chance for deeper conversations. We’re definitely looking forward to hosting more of these events!

Over the past year, Borderless House Kansai has been bustling with various activities. We’re excited to keep sharing these experiences through our blog. Stay tuned for more updates, and we hope you enjoy following along!

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Experience Udon Making: A Community Event at BORDERLESS HOUSE Kansai!

Hello there! This is Borderless House, ringing in the New Year with you!

Happy New Year to everyone! As we kick off 2024, we’re excited to fill you in on what’s new at Borderless House in the Kansai region.

We run a network of 55 share houses in Japan, with 11 of them located in the vibrant Kansai area, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. Our share houses in Kansai may be fewer in number than in Tokyo, but they offer a close-knit and lively community feel that’s really special.

In this spirit, we’re thrilled to bring you a special feature on a highlight event from last year – the Udon Making Experience, proudly hosted by Borderless House Kansai!

Cooking Up Connections: Udon Making Workshop

We had a great time hosting an Udon Making Experience in the kitchen at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.

The idea came from one of our university student residents who loves food. Before leaving our house, they wanted to do something fun and special with everyone.

The event was a big hit! We had 20 people join us, including international students from Ritsumeikan University and friends of our residents.

Udon is a popular dish that many people, including foreigners, enjoy eating. But making udon from scratch is something not many people, even in Japan, have tried. This event was a fun chance for everyone to try making udon themselves.

The best part of making udon? It was stepping on the dough!

It was a strange and fun experience to make food by stepping on it. This surprised everyone who joined in. We all stepped and pressed the dough very hard.

After stepping on the dough to make it firm, we rolled it out and cut it into noodles. Everyone was excited to try cutting the noodles, even though it was new for many of us.

We didn’t just make udon. We also tried making inari sushi and shiratama, a sweet dessert.

There were 20 of us, and we worked in teams. This way, everyone got to taste what we made. We all helped each other and worked well together in the kitchen!

Funny thing about the event – none of our team or student members had made udon before!

We were all starting from scratch. But we really wanted to make the event enjoyable for everyone. So here’s a little secret: we stayed up late the night before practicing how to make udon. Everyone got a good laugh when they heard about our last-minute training!

At Borderless House Kansai, we didn’t just stop at udon making. Throughout the past year, we organized a bunch of different events! We’re excited to share more stories and updates on our blog. We’d love it if you keep an eye out for our future posts and enjoy them!

Join BORDERLESS HOUSE community with EARLY BIRD Campaign!

Click above for the details of 2024 Early Bird Campaign – Secure Your Cozy Home in Japan at BORDERLESS HOUSE NOW!

Seize this chance to be part of a vibrant community, experience diverse cultures, and build lasting friendships. Book your spot early to enjoy exclusive benefits and offers 🌍✨

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【Borderless House Kyoto Kinugasa】I did not want to leave this amazing international exchange share house after staying for weeks on my business trip

Hello! I’m Yuya in charge of the blog!

I usually work at Borderless House in Tokyo, but I just went to Kansai on a long business trip recently.

I have stayed at Borderless House for the first time because it was a long business trip to Kansai.

This time, I would like to share a story about the share house life being so much fun that I didn’t want to go back to Tokyo at all.

The place where I stayed was Borderless House Kyoto Kinugasa, which opened in August.

Borderless House Kyoto Kinugasa is a 7-minute walk from Kamaguchi and a 10-minute walk to Kinkakuji Temple!!! This house is in such a great location!

This is a newly built house that just opened in August, and it’s beautiful!

The living room and dining room are separated on the first and the second floors, so there are a lot of free spaces that you could use whenever you want.

This house is up to 26 residents!

Even it was just opened when I moved in, I was able to be surrounded by around 10 housemates from all over the world, such as United States, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan in this international exchange share house.

You can also secure personal time in your cozy private space!

Here is my favorite space ranking announcement!

One of my favorite spaces in this house is the personal room!
The reason is that the private room in this house is the biggest among Borderless House!!!

And the size of the bed is semi-double!

Anyway, it is very important to me.

But don’t be underestimated, the shared room is also the best. Since there is a door between bed and bed, you can still have your private space even staying in a shared room.

I can’t forget the excitement of the first time I showed the shared room to my housemate, we both agreed it felt like Doraemon`s secret space.

After hanging out with housemates in the living room and dining room, I was able to enjoy my private time by reading or working in the room.

The loft space gradually became my healing space during my business trip. It was too comfortable and cozy.

Feeling warm at the kitchen and dining room

My 2nd favorite spaces at the house are kitchen & dining!

The interior designer hoped to give our tenants warm feelings.

A long dining table is designed for 14 people usually but it can fit 20 people at the maximum. You can feel the warmness from the person who sits next to you!

During my stay, whenever I came home, there was always some of housemate having dinner or studying at this table.

Even when not having meals, tenants still sit around the table talking with others.
It makes me not feel lonely at all, but feel excited and I always wondered “Who’s in the dining room at this time?”

I was looking forward to going back from work every day as well!

Are there more attractive points of Kinugasa House!?

My NO.1 favorite space is the living room！

Most share houses have a living room with kitchen and dining room together
But at Kinugasa House, kitchen/dining room and living room are separated on the first floor and second floor.

We were usually watching TV and relaxing with music in this living room! Some tenants like to work or do their homework here too.

During weekends, we also had movie nights and parties here!

 

Are there more attractive points of Kinugasa House!?

There are two more points I would like to recommend.

First one is the bath!

There are many share houses that have only basic shower rooms, however, there is a spacious bath at this house where you can stretch your legs!

Bath lovers must see! !

And you can use it whenever you want without worrying about water and gas fees.
It was an awesome information for me since I live alone.

Second, there is a stylish gallery and guest house in the neighborhood!

The interior is modern Japanese style and they sell there wonderful ceramic work.

It was fun to stop by and talk with the guests while enjoying the exhibition.

Even as a staff, I did not know living in an international share house is just so much fun!

As a staff member, I am a friend with many of our tenants, and I’m invited to a house party often.

I feel that Borderless House is a fun place to live,

however, after living here, my point of view has changed.

It was not just fun, but correctly, it is INCREDIBLY FUN.

Share house seems interesting from the Japanese TV series「TERRACE HOUSE」

Speaking of share house life, you must have to watch the TV show called「TERRACE HOUSE」

We were totally hooked and everyone gathers in the living room together on Tuesday nights for it while having dinner.

During my stay, there were many girls, so we have discussed about each country`s philosophy of love, “It’s impossible to be like this” or “It’s vey similar to my country.” “I felt very excited when everyone was very into it.” etc.

The show was more exciting compared to Borderless House though.

“Well, it’s fun for making lots of friends than focused on a love life, isn’t it?”

Be the master of Takoyakiー！

Takoyaki party is very classic as a home party here. Of course, we did it during my stay.

For some reason,we did it every three days in one of the weeks!
Don’t underestimate it and think it was just a takoyaki party! We actually made it very international and interesting.

For instance, my housemates put kimchi from Korea and tried various ingredients.

It was in a mess at the first time we tried, and it was also frustrating that everyone became very quiet while making it.

However, it was so tasty after we were getting good at making it and we even accidentally made too much!

But I can say they were more delicious than the ones I bought from the store!

There is tangible cultural property near the house?! Cheers with milk at a public bath

All the house events of Kinugasa House were fun, but the best one was we went to public bath together

There are 2 tangible cultural properties near the house which are KING OF public bath and Funaoka Onsen.

Unfortunately, I didn’t go to Kinkakuji-yu during my stay, but I can’t forget Funaoka onsen, which I went to after the takoyaki party with everyone in the house.

“In Korea, there is a place called Chimjiruban, which is like a public bath” and “There seems to be a public bath where men and women can enter together in Germany.”

“While having a “”hadaka no tsukiai”” in the bath, we talked about many deep stories.

*hadaka no tsukia*

After the bath, we toasted with bottled milks.

Even if it was not a special event, milk made it the best ending of the day.

I miss the share house life so much afterwards

It was only about one month that I stayed at Kinugasa House for the business trip,
even it was very short, I was able to have a lot of good memories with my housemates.

Before I left, they held a farewell party for me. It was so hard for me to say goodbye to everyone, and we were chatting until 4 o’clock in the morning the day I left.

Not only events and parties, but we often went groceries shopping together.
To cook and have dinner together and to be greeted with “Okaeri” when I came home every night were the things I miss the most.”

My heart is still in Kyoto after I am back to Tokyo.

I strongly recommend Kinugasa House! since even for me, I want to live there for a long time.

Minimum contract term at Borderless House is one month, so you can stay here for your business trip as well!

I hope you like my sharing about Kinugasa House!

PS. Potluck party and chances to visit the house for non-tenant guests!?

Borderless House Kinugasa is open for visitors every Saturday, so anyone can visit it freely!

Moreover, there is a potluck party once a month!

We invite local people who live in the neighborhood to join the party too.

If you are interested, please drop in! (I really wanted to go to the Potluck Party!) )

Borderless House Kyoto Kinugasa Web Page
List of share houses in the Kansai area

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Great success with neighbors! Kimono dressing and Tea party event! @ Kyoto Kamigamo House

Hello, this is Suguru from Borderless House.

“Kimono dressing & Tea party” event was held at Kyoto Kamigamo House on 13th of May.

Dressing of kimonos is a valuable experience, so it generally costs around 4000 yen a day per person. However, this time, thanks to the cooperation of Kyoto Kimono Kikaku-san, the participation fee was 500 yen! We really appreciate Kyoto Kimono Kikaku-san!

As such a wonderful event, gathering 21 tenants in total from all 5 Borderless Houses in Osaka and Kyoto!

There was also an exchange with local people in the Tea party after the Kimono dressing. 12 neighbors of the Kyoto Kamigamo House took part in it. It was an exciting event from the beginning to the end.

I will introduce the whole Kimono dressing & Tea party event with photographs!

What I find the struggle point of wearing Kimono

Male tenants who came from overseas were struggling very hard on the Tabi(socks) to be worn for the first time.

It was a funny story that one of tenants said “Where is my ring finger, where?!”

On the other hand, female tenants tried to make Obi(sash belt) by themselves! There are various shapes of Kimono Obi like ribbon.

Thanks to the guidance of the Kyoto Kimono Kikaku-san, everyone was able to dress in the kimono beautifully!

In fact, some neighbors participated the event as a “Kimono dressing” volunteer!

One of our lovely neighbors is O-san often come to Kyoto Kamigamo House. She remember all tenant’ names and nicknames. And then she participated as a volunteer this time because she wanted to become a power even a little for the tenants.

Let’s take a picture!

It was the first time for most of tenants to wear kimonos by themselves, so after the dressing they were excited and took a lot of photos

It was a “Natto pose” thought by a foreign tenant who loves natto too much and eats it in the morning, afternoon and evening!

Walking around “Kamigamo Shrine”, one of the world cultural heritage

After dressing, we divided into 3 teams and looked around Kamigamo Shrine.

This shrine is located 3 minutes on foot from the Kyoto Kamigamo House.

Everyone (the participants and the staff) took a commemorative photo in front of the gateway of the shrine!

This place for ritual cleaning of hands and mouth with water when visiting shrines.

Tea party was a great success!The beginning of a conversation is Korean dramas!?

After the walking around, 12 neighbors welcomed the tenants at the Kamigamo House!

At the beginning, thee neighbors were nervous and had the following feelings of uneasiness.

“I do not know how to start a talking”

”I can not speak English” 

However, It started a talking with a casual word!

For example, one neighbor said to a Korean tenant, “I love Korean dramas!”

“Oh! Which drama do you like!?” the tenant asked her.

“I think that drama …”

In this way, good communication at the tea party was born one after another.

Those who told the tenants his history of the Kamigamo area that he was born and raised, while using gesture hand gestures.

Some girls also positively visited the tenants to learn English and Korean.

The fun time went by quickly. To the announcement of the end time, I got a lot of regretful words such as “It’s too early one hour.”

And then, some of participants asked us “When is the next event? Please tell me as soon as you decided” We received a lot of voices that are looking forward to the next event as well.

We would like to plan an event like this one again!

The photo with a big smile! Thank you very much for all neighbors who came this time!

Many pleasant comments from the participants!

It was fulfilling for the first time to have a Kimono dressing experience. I learned a lot about Kamigamo area from the neighbors, so I want to know more Kamigamo while continuing to interact with them.

W-san from Japan

It was a lot of fun to talk with the other houses tenants. I hope to participate if such a collaborative event is next time.

R-san from Japan

I would like you to organize Japanese culture events. I want to learn more about how to tie belts(Obi), please teach me!

A-san from Germany

We received many pleasant comments from tenants who participated in this event.

As feeling with traditional Japanese culture here, there is a good environment that Kamigamo House can do international exchange × local community exchange.

Borderless House Kyoto Kamigamo wants to grow with the community while cooperating with tenants and local residents!

Finally, for the success of this event, thank you very much for the Kyoto Kimono Kikaku-san from Kyoto University.

Thank you for reading our blog, well then see you next time!

If you are interested in Borderless House, please contact us!

＜Borderless House Kyoto Kamigamo＞

http://www.borderless-house.com/jp/sharehouse/h/kamigamo/

<Borderless House Kyoto Hanazono>

http://www.borderless-house.com/jp/sharehouse/h/kyoto-hanazono1/